Gateway to America. "Ellis Island, or the ‘Island of Tears,’ is located in New York Harbour just off the New Jersey coast and north of Liberty Island. It used to be an immigrant inspection station and between 1892 and 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through here. 40% of all Americans can trace at least one ancestor to Ellis Island.
Immigrants from all over the world arriving in New York Harbour would stop at Ellis Island to pass through immigration before entering the US.
First and second class passengers underwent a brief inspection aboard ship. The government felt wealthy passengers would not become a burden to the state. Third class or ‘steerage’ passengers, though, were transported from the pier by ferry to Ellis Island where everyone would undergo a medical and legal inspection. They entered the main building through the baggage room and left their luggage there. Then they proceeded to the Great Hall.
The first test was the ‘six second medical exam’. Doctors looked at the immigrants for apparent medical problems or disabilities. They put chalk marks on the clothes of people they thought had something wrong with them and sent them for a filled examination. Medical examinations weren't required for everyone until 1917. If someone had a problem that was curable, they were sent to the island’s hospital. If not, the steamship company they came with would have to pay to send them back.
The next step was an interview with a legal inspector. Immigrants had to have proof of where they came from and where they expected to live and work. After 1921, people had to pass a literacy test and show a passport and visa.
When there were no problems, the whole process could take a mere 3-5 hours. However, some people would stay longer on the island if they had legal problems or if they had to wait for a family member to be treated in the hospital. The next area was the money exchange area where people could acquire dollars and buy train tickets.
At the exit from Ellis Island, so many family reunions took place that the staff gave it the nickname 'the kissing post-. After that, the new Americans were free to start their new lives". Read the text and decide if each sentence is T or F. 1. Liberty Island is also known as the Island of Tears.        
2.  Immigrants make up 40 percent of the people living in the United States.      
3. If immigrants to America were rich, they didn't have to go to Ellis Island.    
4. The poorer immigrants could not take their things into the Great Hall.        
5. The people who had chalk marks on their clothing were found to be healthy.      
6.  After 1917, doctors performed the 'six second medical exam' on everyone.      
7. The legal officer decided whether immigrants were who they said they were.          
8. Immigrants never had to stay on Ellis Island for more than five hours.          
9.  If immigrants needed to get to another city, they could take a train.        
10. Many immigrants met with their relatives at 'the kissing post' at Elis Island.      

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